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Next week, NBA draft season will officially begin, with a horde of prospects heading to Chicago to be poked, prodded and measured at the annual Draft Combine. Increasingly, it seems that five prospects have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, but in general, it is a deep draft top-heavy with point guards and bottom heavy with big men.

8. Sacramento — Dennis Smith Jr., PG, North Carolina State

The Kings need to address their long-term point guard need, and though they have been resistant to that idea in recent years, this draft will almost force them to pick a playmaker. Smith is a creative scorer and playmaker who could be the anchor of the Kings’ offense.

9. Dallas — Frank Ntilikina, PG, France

Ntilikina averaged only about 18 minutes per game for Strausbourg in the French League, but he has the makings of a great playmaker who can also knock down shots. The Mavs are eager to find a point guard.

10. Sacramento (from New Orleans) — Jonathan Isaac, SF, Florida State

Assuming there are no bizarre trades in the works, the Kings could be in position to follow up their point guard pick by addressing another weak spot, small forward. Isaac’s stock swooned as the regular season wrapped up, but averages of 12.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in tourney play helped revive him.

17. Milwaukee — Justin Patton, C, Creighton

Patton is an athletic, well-rounded 7-footer who fueled the Jays’ surprising start and played well enough over the course of the year to establish himself as a clear first-rounder. But he’s been too passive at times, and wore down over the course of the season.

20. Portland (from Memphis) ​— Tyler Lydon, SF/PF, Syracuse

21. Oklahoma City — Ivan Rabb, PF, California

It’s rare that a player damages his draft stock by going back to school to work on his game. But Rabb likely did just that. He is an excellent rebounder and a solid interior scorer, which is pretty much what he was last year. He could go in the teens, but he probably would have been a lottery pick last year.

22. Brooklyn (from Washington) — John Collins, PF/C, Wake Forest

Collins got better as the year has gone on, working as a post-up big man in a Wake Forest offense that stresses post-up big men. He averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds, but shot just one 3-pointer in two college seasons.

28. L.A. Lakers (from Houston) — Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Germany

Hartenstein just turned 19 and is most certainly a project. But he is big (7-1), has some athleticism and is a tough defender. If he develops a reliable perimeter shot, he’ll be a top-of-the-rotation player.

29. San Antonio — Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA

30. Utah (from Golden State) — Alec Peters, PF, Valparaiso

Peters is a senior who can be a do-it-all big man at the next level. He was dominant against Horizon League competition, but also scored 24 points on both Oregon and Alabama, as well as 23 against Kentucky.

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